By Terence Dooley

Barry Hearn picked Danny Williams to win last weeks "Prizefighter: The Heavyweights III" tournament, only to see his pick crash out in the very first contest.  Audley Harrison went onto scoop the title with solid wins over Scott Belshaw, Danny Hughes and Coleman Barrett; lesson learned, Hearn now predicts that ‘Big Aud’ will fight for a world title by 2011.

“Winning Prizefighter is the biggest thing that has happened to Audley Harrison since turning professional and he did it with style and power,” declared Hearn.  “He showed people he has ability and turned the boos into cheers.

He continued: “I’ve watched Audley’s career since he turned professional with an Olympic gold medal around his neck.  He’s had his critics - I’ve been one of them - who have complained he talks a great fight but doesn’t deliver.  Audley is a great self-publicist but on Friday he showed he is a great fighter and a potential world-beater.  His style is infuriating and I would hate to train him as I believe he has a gameplan that he concocts himself and, as usual, listens to nobody.

“The fact is, though, he is a class act as every punch that knocked down three different opponents was executed quite beautifully and would’ve had a concussive effect on any heavyweight in the world.  Where does Audley go from him? Well, it all depends on Audley!

“If he concentrates on his boxing and allows professionals to do their job properly, then I believe he could get a crack at a world heavyweight title in the next 12 months.”

Hearn also feels that Audley, 37, is finally winning over skeptical British boxing fans.  Audley is now delivering on his promise - albeit it a lower level than the rarefied heights of the world level that Harrison predicted for himself at the outset of his pro career.  Still, Hearn feels that Audley is building bridges with Joe Public.

“People will always boo a fighter that talks a good fight and doesn’t deliver,” stated Hearn. “He has lost to Michael Sprott and Martin Rogan and that did not fit with his assertions that he was going to be undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.”

“The British public like to see triers, not posers,” he continued.  “They like heart and effort as well as quality and Audley hadn’t shown enough of that in the past. But on Friday he began to show what he can do. The manor [sic] of his victory has reinvented some level of British support but there’s still a long way to go.

“Had Audley not won Prizefighter, the only way for him to go would’ve been retirement. The fact he won it means he has one last chance on his personal road to redemption and a last crack at achieving his dreams.  It’s not going to be easy and there’s still a long, hard road ahead but at least he is traveling in the right direction.”

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